Deadline for Jan. 1 health coverage near in Md.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The deadline for people to enroll in health care plans to get coverage Jan. 1 in Maryland is approaching for two of the four medical carriers in the state's health care exchange.

The deadline to enroll with CareFirst and United Healthcare to get coverage at the start of the year is midnight Friday.

Two other carriers, Evergreen Health Cooperative and Kaiser Foundation, have extended their deadlines until midnight Tuesday.

The exchange website has been troubled with computer problems since its debut on Oct. 1, but state officials say nine critical fixes have been addressed.

Dori Henry, a spokeswoman for the state's health department, says many more people are now able to get through to enroll in plans. She says an information technology team continues to work on remaining problems.